Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TH
Context: The archaeological site of Pattanam, on the southwestern coast in Kerala’s Ernakulam district, is believed to be part of the ancient port city of the Muziris.
| Muchiri/Muziris | |
| About | Ancient harbour and an urban centre |
| Location | Malabar Coast. The exact location of Muziris is disputed. Excavations suggest somewhere near Pattanam, Kerala.
|
| Evidence | Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, Sangam literature, Pliny the Elder [in his Natural History, hailed Muziris as “the first emporium of India] |
| Importance | Key to the interactions (trade and commerce) between South India and Persia, the Middle East, North Africa, and the (Greek and Roman) Mediterranean region |
| Commodities exported | Spices, semi-precious stones, pearls, diamonds, sapphires, ivory, Chinese silk, etc |
| Commodities imported | Gold coins, multicoloured textiles, sulphide of antimony, copper, tin, lead, coral, raw glass, wine, etc. |
| Decline | Roman trade declined from the 5th century AD, the port attracted the Persian, Chinese and Arab traders until the devastating floods of Periyar in 1341. |
| Recent findings | DNA analysis suggests that the site was first occupied by the indigenous and ‘Megalithic’ (Iron Age) people. A continuous inflow of traders exemplified multicultural mixing in ancient South India. |
